Hose-rack.



No. 766,640. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. M. G. MEEHAN.

HOSE RACK.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.29, 1903.

no MODEL. 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses. I nventor.

'Zlt) l .dttarney.

No. 766,640. PATENTED AUG. 2, 1904. M. G. MEEHAN.

HOSE RACK.

APPLICATION FILED 001229, 1903.

H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Patented August 2, i904.

UN1TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL C. MEEHAN, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK.

HOSE-RACK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 766,640, dated. August 2, 1904.

Application filed October 29, 1903. Serial No. 179,042- (No model.)

To rtZlwhom it D'MLZ/ concern.-

Be it known that I, MICHAEL C. MEEHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hose-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved hoserack for supporting a hose in position for immediate use in case of fire.

The object of the invention is to construct a rack from which the hose is supported in a plurality of loops which are arranged in a horizontal row and separated from each other, which allows the hose to fall upon the floor without becoming entangled, the hose falling from the rack by its own weight upon pulling a lever.

Another object of the invention is to support the hose upon the rack in such a manner that the folds will not touch each other, and so prevent the hose from decaying and also prevents kinking of the hose at the folds, which is often the case when the hose is folded upon itself.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction, all of which will be fully and clearly hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the improved hose rack, showing a hose supported thereon. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the improved hose-rack, showing the hose released from the rack and lying upon the floor. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the improved hose-rack, showing the hose released. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the improved rack, showing the hose released. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the vertical post on line a a Fig. 1, the cross-arm being shown in its normal position in full lines and in its released position in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section through the upright post and the cross-arm, showing a stop-plate attached thereto for limiting its movement.

In referring to the drawings for the details of construction like numerals designate like parts.

The rack consists of an upright post 1, to which a cross-arm 2 is secured by a hinge. One member, 3, of the hinge is secured to the upright post 1 by bolts a, and the other memher, 5, is secured to the cross-arm 2 by bolts 6. The member 5 projects beyond the cross-arm 2, as at T, and forms one part of latching device by means of which the cross-arm is released to drop the hose 8.

The cross-arm 2 is provided with a plurality of laterally-projecting pegs or studs 9, which extend horizontally from the outer face of the cross-arm. These pegs or studs 9 are preferably placed equidistant from each other on each half of the cross-arm 2 and in a horizontal row.

The hose 8 has one end attached permanently to a water-plug or hydrant 10 and is then carried up and looped over the end peg or stud 9 on the cross-arm 2 adjacent to the hydrant 10. (See Fig. 1.) The remainder of the hose is then looped over the remaining pegs or studs 9 and falls between the pegs in independent loops which are in a horizontal row and are out of contact with each other, as shown. This provides for the thorough exposure of the hose to the drying influence of the surrounding atmosphere and prevents decay and also flattening and kinking, such as found when the hose is wound in a plurality of superimposed loops. A nozzle 11 is attached to the other end of the hose and is supported in a bracket 12, which is bolted to the side of the post 1 by bolts 13, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4.

The latching device consists of a bell-crank 11, which is pivoted by a bolt 15 to the upright post 1 above the cross-arm 2. One arm, 16, of the bell-crank 14 extends horizontally outward and has a rod 17 pivoted thereto by a pin. This rod 17 hangs downward and terminates in a handle or grip 18, by means of which it may be conveniently grasped. The other arm, 19, of the bell-crank 1 k extends vertically downward and in front of the projecting portion 7 of the hinge member 5.

The weight of the hose 8 upon the crossarm 2 tends to pull said cross-arm forwardly and turn it upon the hinge. This is prevented by the projecting portion 7 of the hinge memher 5 coming in Contact with the arm 19 of the bell-crank 14, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The movement of the bell-crank 141 is limited by a pin 20, projecting from the post 1, which acts as a stop against which the bell-crank strikes W'hen it is desired to use the hose, as in case of fire, the handle 18 of the rod 17 is grasped and pulled downward. This moves the bell-crank 14 on the pivoting-bolt and releases the projecting portion 7 of the hinge member 3; The weight of the hose 8 upon the cross-arm 2 pulls said cross-arm forward and turns it upon the hinge, whereby the hose falls from the pegs 9 to the floor. The valveoperating handle 21 of the water-plug 10 is now operated to allow the water to pass into the hose 8, and the nozzle 11 is lifted from the support or bracket 12.

It will be seen by referringto Fig. 4 that the hose when released falls upon the floor in a series of independent separated loops and does not become entangled. The method of looping the hose upon the pegs with the loops out of contact and not coiled around or in superimposed position upon each other also prevents decay of the hose and the forming of kinks at the folds and the flattening of the hose, which is usually the case with a hose in which the loops are folded upon themselves;

WVhen it is desired to drop the hose 8 at some distance from the post 1, a plate 22, having its lower end slightly curved, is secured to the cross-arm 2 by the bolts 6.

When the cross-arm 2 is released, the bottom edge of the plate 22 will strike against the hinge member 3 and support the cross-arm 2 in the position shown in Fig. 6. The pegs or of loose folds, which are in a longitudinal row and are separated from each other, so that the operator can run with the nozzle to the fire location without any danger of the loops entangling or knotting while straightening out. Another advantage is that the loops when suspended are entirely separated from each other and are in loose folds, so that their extreme surface is perfectly exposed to the action of air in drying, which prevents decay.

I claim as my invention 1. In a hose-supporting device, a suitable supporting member, a hinge comprising two pivotally-connected leaves, means for anchoring one leaf to the supporting member, a cross-arm carried by the other leaf, said leaf projecting from the edge of the cross-arm, means for suspending hose from the crossarm and means for engaging the projecting portion of the leaf to hold the cross-arm in operative position.

2. In a hose-supporting device, a suitable upright, a hinge having one leaf secured to the upright, a cross-arm secured to the opposite leaf With the end of said leaf projecting from the edge thereof, pegs projecting from the cross-arm, a latch pivoted transversely of the upright in position to engage the projecting end of' the leaf and means for operating the said latch.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a post, a hinge having one leaf secured to the post, a cross-arm carried by the opposite leaf, the end of said leaf projecting. from the edge of the cross-arm to form a, latch-engaging member, a latch comprising a bell-crank pivoted to swing transversely of the post in such relation to the cross-arm as to cause the end. of the bell-crank to engage the projecting end of the leaf, substantially as described.

MICHAEL C. MEEHAN. Witnesses GEO. A. NEUBAUER, OHAs. PANKOW. 

